HER RAYS!

The Tampa Bay Rays 2009 season is now in the books, and it is quite a collection of stories. 

Beloved main characters were lost.  Rocco Baldelli defected to enemy territory.  Jonny Gomes found success in a different city, and Scott Kazmir headed to LA to try to become a star.

The team’s story got off to a slow start in April but it picked up the next month.  Different facets did well at different times.  At times the offense was at the forefront.  Other times the pitching was masterful.  Even the bullpen had its moments.  However, the team never seemed to put it all together for any length of time.  This underlying theme is present throughout the 2009 story.

There were many subplots involving individual characters this year, some are joyous and others heartbreaking.  First there were the stories of the five all-stars.

Jason Bartlett had an amazing season at the plate.  He increased his power and got on base routinely, all while playing a not too shabby shortstop.  Plus I shared an elevator with his wife and son, and let’s just say he is a very lucky man.

Ben Zobrist decided to show the baseball world that he’s got this game figured out and he’s not going anywhere.

Evan Longoria started out blazing hot, and eventually cooled.  It’s obvious he has the talent to be an MVP in the future though.

Carlos Pena’s story is hard to classify.  Is it fantasy, he did hit 39 homeruns and didn’t even play the last month of the season.  Or is it tragedy, because he only hit about that many singles and he snapped two fingers?

Carl Crawford’s guide to a great year in left field is a best seller.  Hopefully we’ll get to read the sequel next year.

Jeff Niemann also quietly put together a great rookie campaign.  Let’s hope he can build on it next year.

Then there were the few, the tired, and the weary.  James Shields and Matt Garza didn’t have bad seasons they just were not nearly as sharp.  Let’s hope they get some much needed rest and come back strong next spring.

Now on to the sad stories…

BJ Upton’s was perhaps the saddest of them all.  This kid has enough talent to carry this team if he can find a way to put it all together.  It was very hard to watch him struggle.  I only hope we can watch his epic comeback next season.

Navi also struggled.  That is putting it mildly.  Only he can write the next part of his story.  I hope he puts in the work.

Pat Burrell’s got some ’splaining to do.  I would prefer he does it with his bat in about six months time.  If he can’t, I hope to see his butt on the bench and Willy Aybar’s cracking bat in the line-up.

The most painful story of the Rays season by far was of course the collapse of the bullpen.  It actually caused this blogger to seek therapy in college football, while watching the Rays with my hands over my eyes.

The coaching is hard to summarize.  My personal review is that Mr. Maddon is loyal to a fault, and it hurt this team this year.  It aided to the fact that the team never put it all together.  I understand wanting to encourage guys and show them support, but if it is at the expense of the team??  BJ Upton was left in the lead off spot for way too long.  Andy Sonnanstine was given way too many chances.  Pat Burrell was put in the line-up consistently and never proved that he deserved to be there.  Several relief pitchers were marched out there time and time again even during their own personal suckfests.  This is only my opinion, but I really feel that it hurt the team this season.

The most puzzling story is the one where the hitting coach is let go and the pitching coach stays??

Remember even though this season is in the books there are many exciting stories to look forward to next season.  Young kids who could save the world.  Okay, I might be getting a little dramatic now…

As for Her Rays, this season mirrored the team’s.  After an epic rookie year that was very exciting, this blogger suffered a bit of a let down this year.  Real life seemed to get in the way a little more, and as a result the performance lacked.  I still had a great time, and I have the Rays to thank for that.

I’m not sure what the future will hold for this blog.  Either I will work really hard this off-season and make the team out of spring training or I might be designated for assignment.  Thank you to those of you who stopped by.  I appreciate it.  A special thanks to those of you who were nice.  Yes, I found out these internets can be a cruel place.  Oh, and a very special thanks to the Professor at Rays Index for all of your support.

Have a happy off-season.  If I’m not here in the spring, you can find me at a Rays game.  Go Rays!

Even though it doesn’t seem like it around here lately, I am still addicted to the Rays.  I love these guys, but they really have me torn this year between good baseball sense and basic emotions.

For example, I love Andy Sonnanstine and he’s really handsome but I did not want him on the mound Tuesday night.  I wanted Kazmir.  When I use my good baseball sense I know the Kazmir trade was smart, but my basic emotions thought the timing stunk because I wanted him to pitch against Lester.  I wish Scott well and I hope he gets a tan or something because he definitely looks better in blue.

BJ Upton also had me torn.  He is so great on defense and there’s nothing better than watching him gun down runners.  However I hear a sucking sound every time he comes to the plate.  Now last night he looked much better and I’m hoping he’s turning it around, because I was really starting to think they should pinch hit for him in big situations.  Come back to us Beej!

JP is causing me stress too.  Now is not the time for our bullpen savior to fall apart.  Send him to the guru stat!

Pat the Bat I thought you blew, but you can hit the ball, who knew!

Welcome back Mr. Longoria.  Perfect timing, now lose the beard.  I say that with nothing but love.

Team Barty!  WooHoo!

So what’s the biggest Rays question in my pea sized brain?  Are they still in it?  Tuesday I said no, Wednesday I said maybe so???  What’s a girl to think?  Go Rays!

Oh and Mr. Perez’s mustache is a thing of beauty.  It reminds me of someone???

Life has been pretty crazy around here, but last night I made an effort to watch the game as I was tooling around the house getting stuff done.  Kazmir was looking great.  He and Zaun seemed to have things figured out.  The offense was struggling until Kapler decided it was time to take the lead.  Everything was looking ripe for the sweep.

Finally I settled in to watch the rest of the game.  When the second umpire dropped like a fly.  There was quite a delay, long enough to put this girl to sleep.  Zzzzzz.

I woke up in a daze sometime in the eighth inning and thought to myself “I should just go to bed,”  but at this point I was kind of refreshed from my power nap.

In the top of the ninth a couple guys got on, and I was pulling for the Rays to score an insurance run.  No dice.

So JP comes in to do his thing, but instead of shutting them down he gives up a home run to tie the game.  Evidently he doesn’t like to sweep.  No really JP Howell has been awesome for the Rays, but his three blown saves lately cause me stress.  They also cause him stress.  He was visibly shaken after that fateful pitch.  He got squeezed by the umpire, but I might have brought someone else in to try to keep the game alive.  Mr. Maddon stuck with his guy, as he has a tendency to do.

After the final wild pitch a blogger’s exasperated cry was heard “Ugh, I should have gone to bed!”

This scoring runs thing isn’t that hard.  Willy can do it from both sides of the plate. 

I’m not the only one that’s been saying the Rays need to get Aybar’s bat in the line-up, and today he showed exactly why.  He’s got a little pop.  Just ask James Shields if he wants him in the line-up on the days he pitches.

All in all it was a very comfortable game.  Kazmir looked good.  The offense scored early and kept the runs coming.  Hernandez even tripled.  Yes you read that right.  Wins are good.  They make Todd Kalas smile, and he is a strapping lad.

Let’s hope the Rays can ride that high and play some serious ball against Boston.  Go Rays!!

James Shields doesn’t want to hear it.  Save it.  He’s heard all the excuses.  He wants to know what the hell he has to do to get a little love around here.  Pitch seven innings of no-hit ball?  Check.

What else is it going to take?  Surf and turf after the game?  Lap dances?  Sham-Wows?  He only wants a couple of runs, nothing crazy.

He’s trying to carry the team every fifth day.  HE COULD USE A LITTLE HELP, because for some reason the team is dead weight on the days he pitches.

He’s mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore.  Maybe he’ll persuade Mr. Maddon (violently if the mood strikes him) to switch up the line-up.  Maybe when his guys make errors behind him, he’ll turn and scream “Aaaahh.”  More likely he’ll hold it all in and take it out on the Gatorade cooler, but a girl can dream.

Baseball is a team sport.  James is not feeling it.  For the love of Pete fellas score some runs for him next time!  Otherwise we might have to let him line y’all up and mow you down with a paint ball gun.  I hear it’s good therapy.

Practice by scoring some runs for Kazmir tomorrow.  Go Rays! 

Scott Kazmir was faboosh tonight!  He actually pitched seven innings.  Seven.  He outdueled Sabathia.  Unbelievable.

His name has come up in trade rumors, and as is typical I have a total chick reaction to that.  I know it might be best for the team, but it’s Scott Kazmir.  He was good for the Rays when no one else was.  I’m kind of attached to him, especially when he shuts down the Yankees or Red Sox.  Can’t they fix him so we get this result everytime?  I know, I’m just a silly girl.

It was great to see the offense show up too, minus Pat Pena.  Let’s not dwell on that…Rays win!

Tomorrow should be fun.  Garza vs. Joba.  Whoa, smokin.  Actually it might come down to who ever can control their emotions.  Remember Matt, baby steps.    Go Rays!!

This game made me grouchy right from the get go!  Why the heck wasn’t it in HD?  Come on!

Where is Brian Anderson?  I want Brian Anderson.  Come on!

What is it about AJ Burnett?  The Rays seem to be rendered useless when he’s on the mound.  Is the snarl his source of power? Come on!

Shields had his normal rough inning early, but what was up with the back to back homers in the 6th?  Come on!

Time to order new bats, because these ones aren’t working.  I don’t have the energy to look up the stats, but the Rays seem to be down in the count a lot.  New York looked a lot more aggressive at the plate.  Granted they were getting fatter pitches, but they really came out swinging right from the beginning.  Take notice fellas.  Come on!

Joe Nelson scares the crap out of me.  He comes in a throws a wild pitch then walks the guy.  Come on!  (he was able to work out of it though)

Evan the RBI machine had a rough go of it tonight.  Unless you count the RBI GIDP.  Come on!

Balfour made me yell at the TV during the Jeter at bat.  He blew two fast balls right by the swinging shortstop, then instead of throwing some junk he decided to press his luck.  Big surprise Captain America singles to right.  Ugh.  Come on!

Albaladejo better watch his back.  Do not hit Longo.  I WILL come down there.  Come on!

Is it bad that I wished Pena was batting 6th when he came up with a chance to pull the Rays within one.  Fail.  Come on!

Shouse.  No other words are needed.  Come on!

Pat, nice home run, but you are late to the party.  Please bring more tomorrow.  Come on!

Yes this game made me Ms. Grouchy McGrouchypants.  The Yanks looked like the much better team.  I hope it made the Rays grouchy too.  Time for them to score some runs, and they have their work cut out for them tomorrow.  CC vs. Kazmir.  Oy.  Let’s hope for the best.  Go Rays.  Come on!

First let me start by saying I’m not a fan of the White Sox.  Matter of fact they are one of the teams I have an irrational distaste for.  I hate that every time they hit a home run there seems to be at least two runners on base.  I hate that the Rays seem to lose their minds a little when playing them, and I really don’t like AJ Pierzynski or his fuzzy blond hair.

I am also not a fan of watching the Rays unable to hit the ball.  I really wanted them to pick up a split in this series.  I really wanted Scott Kazmir to pitch well.  Most of all I wanted them to play a clean game, since last nights game made me grouchy.

However deep down I’m just a big homer of a baseball fan, and I’m ashamed to admit that by the end of the game today I was rooting for the bad guy, Mark Buehrle.  Especially after the catch by Dewayne Wise who just came in the game.  Wow.

A perfect game is an awesome achievement.  Seriously look at the box score, it’s blank.  He blanked… aw crap he blanked the Rays.  Good but not good.  I’m torn.

Here’s what I’m gonna do.  Congratulate Mr. Buehrle on a job well done, encourage Mr. Garza to find a zen like state and outduel Mr. Halladay tomorrow, and persuade the Rays offense to pull their heads out of their butts and score some runs. 

C’mon Rays time to finish the road trip on a good note.  Get pissed off and take down some BlueJays!  Go Rays!

.025 percent of serious Rays fans thought they would win this game tonight, but they managed to pull it off.  Donuts for everyone! 

Kazmir looked good.  Kazmir looked strong.  Kazmir left because something was wrong. 
Hopefully it’s nothing serious.  Forearm cramps are easily treated right?

Barty drove in the first run for the Rays with one of his patented shallow fly balls that seem to find the hole.  Love him.

BJ had an interesting game.  On the one hand he had three hits and drove in a run.  On the other hand he erased two of those hits when he got caught stealing and picked off.  D’oh.

Pat Burrell had another big double.  I could get used to this.

Willy had a huge night at the plate too.  I love his bat but his defense is not always the best.  I wonder if he has ever tried the catcher position?

So they beat Greinke, and gained a game on the Red Sox, but something is still bothering me.  It’s like the money you could be saving on Geiko.  It’s staring at the Rays.  What is it?  Why that’s the eleven runners you left on base!  If Beej would have stayed on it would have been thirteen!

Oh well, bygones.  I’m ready to witness the sweep tomorrow.  Go Rays!!

Is it my fault? 

I wanted the Rays to find a way to get Aybar’s bat in the line-up, and Pat the Bat got a kink in the neck.
I wanted Price to be brought up, and Kazmir got hurt.
I wanted Percy gone, and now he is.
I wanted Zobrist to get more playing time, and Aki got the Tom Brady treatment.
I’ve always wanted to see Brignac in action, and now Barty is gone.  Barty.  Excuse me while I wipe the tears off my face.

Yes I’m aware that the world doesn’t revolve around me, but just in case here are some other things I want.

The Rays starting pitching to find their groove.  Price is so good that when Kazmir comes back all fixed the Rays will have a tough decision between Niemann and Sonny for the 5th spot.
Navi becomes a doubles machine again.
Brignac fills in so nicely that when Barty returns and keeps putting up insane numbers, Reid slides over and becomes the starting second baseman.
Longo goes on a tear again.
Pat comes back with a hot bat.
CC keeps stealing bags and scoring runs.
BJ gets it going on offense.  Making the Rays 1 thru 4 pretty unstoppable.
Zobrist and Gross keep the magic alive, sending Kapler packing.
The bullpen isn’t orthodox, but they hold and save games.

Wow that would be like winning the lottery.  Kind of like last year.  C’mon Rays!

Oh and I also want them to get the hell out of Cleveland, where they are obviously cursed.